Archive for September, 2010

Izakaya Tairyo opened in June, I reviewed it in July, and on Sept. 8, the restaurant was ready to host its official grand opening, with two seatings for a buffet of specialties that included fish flown in from Tsukiji Fish Market.

Most who found their way to the restaurant early were lured by its colorful exterior. The interior is no less colorful in its attempt to recreate the ambience of a Japanese fishing village, down to its humble food offerings and convivial pau hana ambience.

What was offered was just a small sample of what’s on the menu, but the most surprising thing to me is still that, considering the fisherman’s theme, there’s relatively little diversity in seafood served here, but what is served are the types of fish most palatable to a mass audience.

I didn’t stay long enough for dessert, but if you visit, be sure to try the catalana, or frozen creme brulee ($6). It’s yummy!

Nadine Kam photosEmi Hart and Michael Sorenson—who later donned a nametag that read “Emi’s slave”—checked guests into the Yelp party.

Yelp celebrated its first Burstday in Hawaii with Emi Hart hosting a party at Fresh Cafe on Aug. 21.

About 500 local Yelp VIPs and elites were treated to complimentary cocktails and food tastings from about a dozen local food, drink and dessert purveyors, including Soul/Soul Patrol, MAC 24/7, ‘Licious Dishes and Remedy, and a dessert bar featuring sweet treats from Otto Cake, Tea at 1024, and Sunshine’s Cake Creations, whose motto is “Eat Cake First!”

Whenever I see her, Sunshine cake designer Victoria Sgro-Knonpka is always delighting people with her impressive dessert assortment, and this time was no exception. In addition to her usual tiers of 14 different flavors of cupcakes, mini cream puffs and other confections, she was introducing a pineapple-cilantro-lime buttercream version. Look her up at www.sunshinescakecreations.com next time you’re throwing a party.

These days, you can’t claim to have a dessert bar without the presence of Otto, left, who was offering some of his famous cheesecake, cheesecake sandwiches and chocolatey treats. Helping him was Raleigh Towfer.